The Manila Times


A 2


BY CRIS G. ODRONIA REPORTER


news SATURDAY D e cember 11, 2010


form a task force to review all unresolved cases of extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances in the country.


President Aquino made the an- nouncement during the celebration of International Human Rights Day in Malacañang. “Today, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima will sign a department order creating the DOJ Task Force, which will review all reported and unre- solved cases of extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances. Through the reviews, they will rec- ommend measures for the effective and expeditious investigation and prosecution of the cases,” he said. “Moreover, this task force has been mandated to speed up the resolution of cases with sufficient evidence and the necessary reinvestigation to reo- pen cold files,” the President said in his speech at the observance of the 62nd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. During the occasion, he wit- nessed the signing of the imple-


■ FREES FROM A1 Aquino frees ‘Morong 43’


Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday said that there still are standing warrants of arrest in other cases against six of the 43 health workers. “We cannot see them free if there are still standing warrants of arrest in other cases,” de Lima added. President Aquino also recognized the fact that those among the “Morong 43” with standing war- rants of arrest cannot be freed yet. “I have ordered the DOJ [De- partment of Justice] to withdraw the informations filed before the court. This will, in effect, subject to court approval, free those among them who have no other standing warrants in other courts,” the President said. De Lima, however, said that the other 37 are expected to be released before Christmas Day. The health workers were arrested


by government troops on February 6 this year in Morong town of Rizal province for allegedly being caught making explosives and giving sup- port to rebels from the Maoist New People’s Army (NPA). They have been in detention since. The 43 health workers were charged with alleged violation of Presidential Decree 1866, as amended by Republic Act (RA) 8294, and RA 9516, which imposes penalties for illegal possession of grenades and other explosives, and Commission on Elections Resolu- tion 8714 in relation to Article 261 (q) of the Election Code, which im- poses a ban on firearms during elec- tion periods. Their relatives and supporters


have petitioned the government re- peatedly to release them, saying that the “Morong 43” were just holding a health training and seminar when they were arrested.


De Lima, who had handled the case of the “Morong 43” while head- ing the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), have made several proposals to Mr. Aquino, who said that he was letting the courts decide the fate of the health workers. On the occasion of the 62nd an-


niversary of the Universal Declara- tion of Human Rights also on Fri- day, the President disclosed that he has ordered de Lima to withdraw the six criminal complaints filed against the health workers. De Lima said that although mo- tions to withdraw the informa- tions are being prepared by the Justice department, the court still has the last say on the release of the “Morong 43.”


The motions will be filed in court at the soonest time, possibly on Monday.


■ HOPING FROM A1 Sen. Trillanes also hoping for freedom


He said that the status of the proclamation that will give Tril- lanes and soldiers implicated in the Oakwood mutiny, Marines standoff and Manila Peninsula hotel siege to go back to normal life is still pending in both Hou- ses of Congress. But Robles added that all the Sen- ate and the House of Representatives have to do is approve separately the


amnesty proclamation of President Benigno Aquino 3rd. “We do not need a bicameral conference on this issue because this is not a regular bill or resolu- tion. All we need is the concur- rence of both Houses of Congress and they can immediately imple- ment it with the recommendation of the Department of National De- fense,” he said.


Robles added that Trillanes has been in incarceration for more than seven years, and that the pre- vious Arroyo administration made sure that the lawmaker would not be able to post bail. “The past administration insists that the senator committed coup de e’tat, not other violations that are bailable to ensure that he [Trillanes] cannot post bail and will remain be-


hind bars,” he said. Citing a contrasting case, Robles


added that retired General and former Defense Secretary Fortunato Abat was able to post bail even if he called for the formation of a revolutionary government and the ouster of then President Gloria Arroyo on December 2005. Abat was merely charged with inciting to sedition, a bailable offense.


In his speech during the anniver- sary celebration of the universal dec- laration, the President took a swipe at then President Gloria Arroyo. “The medical workers were ar- rested in the waning days of the Arroyo administration on the sus- picion that they were aiding NPA insurgents. These are valid con- cerns. Nevertheless, we recognize that their right to due process was denied them. As a government that is committed to the rule of law and the rights of man, this cannot stand,” he said. According to him, not all of the 43 health workers would be released immediately. “Therefore, I have ordered the DOJ to withdraw the informations filed before the court. This will, in effect, subject to court approval, free those among them who have no other standing warrants in other courts,” he said.


Warning on abuses Mr. Aquino warned abusers of hu-


man rights. “The people have clamored for a


government that is trustworthy and transparent in its actions, and we are taking significant steps toward ful- filling that promise to them. Viola- tors of human rights will be held accountable for their actions, and the state will protect, with unflag- ging commitment, the rights of all its citizens,” he said.


The President described the


withdrawal of the charges against the Morong 43 as “a concrete ex- ample of how our administration is working in the broad light of day to build a country where the law protects us equally.” “The culture of silence, injustice and impunity that once reigned is now a thing of the past,” he said. Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa issued a memorandum order on the dropping of the complaints against the health workers ad- dressed to de Lima. “There is an urgent need to ad- dress their plight even solely on hu- manitarian grounds. Furthermore, it is consistent with the spirit of the season that the ‘Morong 43’ be freed from detention and spend Christmas with their families,” Ochoa said. “More important, questions raised on the legality of their arrest justify their release,” the Executive secretary said in the memorandum order dated December 8. De Lima said that hey are veri- fying the information from the Armed Forces of the Philippines whether the six members of the “Morong 43” indeed have stand-


DOJ to form group to probe political killings P


RESIDENT Benigno Aquino 3rd on Friday announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will


menting rules and regulations of Republic Act 9745, or the Anti-Tor- ture Law, in manifestation of his ad- ministration’s resolve to uphold human rights.


In his speech, Mr. Aquino said that his administration is serious in its commitment to protect the rights of Filipinos. “The Philippines, as a signatory to most of the major international human-rights treaties and instru- ments, must live up to its commit- ments,” he noted. “In contrast to the dark era that once engulfed us, we are now mak- ing certain that our commitments to these treaties do not remain pa- per promises because for the first time in nearly a decade, we have a government that is serious about human rights,” Mr. Aquino said, in an apparent swipe at former Presi- dent Gloria Arroyo.


■ President Benigno Aquino 3rd applauds as Commission on Human Rights Chairman Loretta Ann Rosales (left) and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima exchange documents after Republic Act 9745—the Anti-Torture Law—was signed in Malacañang on Friday. MALACAÑANG PHOTO


Police, military to take part The President cited that the Armed


Forces of the Philippines has estab- lished a Human Rights Office, which serves as the main platform


ing warrants of arrest related to other charges.


She assured that the military and the police, “all in the name of na- tional interest,” will respect the de- cision of Mr. Aquino to order the dropping of the charges.


De Lima said if the court decided not to release the health workers, the Justice department would seek legal remedies, such as filing an appeal before the higher court.


House welcomes release The President’s allies in the House


of Representatives also on Friday welcomed the withdrawal of the charges against the “Morong 43.” “It is a signal from the President that the administration is dead se- rious about human rights and a timely reminder to be vigilant in our pursuit of justice,” said Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada 3rd, the chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights during the previ- ous Congress.


He visited the health workers de- tained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City (Metro Manila) on No- vember 29 and called on the Justice department to drop the charges against them. Tañada authored House Resolu-


tion 703, which sought investiga- tion of government compliance with laws against torture and crimes against International Hu- manitarian Law. Rep. Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar said Mr. Aquino’s ordering withdrawal of the charges was a show of compassion in a season of peace and hope.


Despite praising the President,


Tañada, along with Rep. Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna party-list and Rep. Emmie de Jesus of Gabriela party-list, called for caution. “Of course I cannot help but think of the many more who suf- fered the same fate as the ‘Morong 43,’” he said. Mr. Aquino’s order came after the 43 detainees began a hunger strike last week to publicize their cause and communist leaders de- manded their release ahead of a planned resumption of peace talks next year.


The Maoist guerillas have been


waging a rebellion in the Philip- pines since 1969, with the conflict claiming thousands of lives. Immediately after learning of the President’s order, the spokesman for the Philippine National Police, Sen- ior Supt. Agrimero Cruz defended the handling of the case. “We submitted our investigation


reports, we attached all the state- ments, our evidence, we did our homework,” Cruz told Agence France-Presse. The Armed Forces also on Friday


bowed to Mr. Aquino ordering the withdrawal of the charges, citing


for addressing all human rights and international humanitarian law is- sues involving the military. The Armed Forces, he said, is set to publish a handbook that will ori-


peace and national reconciliation. But the military leadership in- sisted that the “Morong 43” are NPA members and that their ar- rest was made in accordance with the law. “In the spirit of respect for hu- man rights and justice, the Armed Forces supports the decision of the Commander in Chief relative to the 43 arrested. We believe that this de- velopment fosters transparency, ac- countability and confidence in the government [that create] an atmos- phere conducive to peace,” the Armed Forces spokesman, Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr., said. He added that they believed the President’s decision “upholds the path of a peaceful and democratic resolution to the conflict within our midst.”


Caught with illegal firearms Mabanta said that if even if the case was to be dismissed, it would not erase the fact that several of the sus- pects were caught with illegal fire- arms and that some admitted that they were members of the under- ground movement and even ap- plied to the social integration pro- gram of the government. “Whatever the results of this un- dertaking or investigation, it is our fervent wish that all of these indi- viduals will be reintegrated back to mainstream society as ordinary citi- zens,” he added.


Mabanta admitted that Mr.


Aquino’s decision lowered the mo- rale of some members of the Armed Forces but that the majority would abide by the decision.


He dispelled speculations that the President’s order may trigger unrest in the military, saying that “at this point, the Armed Forces is much, much more professional than [it was] a few years back and we are prepared for any eventuality.” The order “is just a minor setback.


We look at this as probably lessons learned and this will further . . . push us to improve our operations and next time not to repeat the same mistakes that we may have done in this case,” Mabanta said.


The Army spokesman, Col. Antonio Parlade, pointed out that the Army is a team player, adding that if the release of the “Morong 43” is needed to achieve peace, they are supporting it. “Whatever the decision of the President is okay because it doesn’t change the fact that they are NPAs, they are not health workers,” Parlade said of the “Morong 43.” “Probably, there were technicali- ties [that made the arrest of the group look illegal] or whatever but it doesn’t change the fact that they are not health workers.” ROMMEL C. LONTAYAO,


CRIS G. ODRONIA, LLANESCA T. PANTI, WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL AND AFP


ent the troops on human rights and international humanitarian law. To further protect human rights,


Mr. Aquino added, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has crafted


■ INDONESIANS FROM A1


Pinoy booters can defeat Indonesians


“Askals” or Azkals are what ugly street dogs in the Philippines are called, to differentiate them from the foreign breeds seemingly favored by a number of Filipinos, who apparently cannot yet get over the colonial hang-up that Labradors and Saint Bernards and Jack Russells are the only dogs in the world. Romualdez, the former PFF president, predicted the outcome of the match in the Indonesian capital a day after the Azkals returned to Manila on Thursday, or just hours after they sealed their semifinal appearance with a scoreless draw against Myanmar. The tie made them the No. 2 team going into in the four- cornered fight for the Suzuki Cup, formerly the Tiger Cup, sponsored by the Asean Football Federation (AFF). Romualdez told The Manila


Times on Friday that the Philippine team should accept reality that they most likely play their two semifinal encounters with Indonesia in Jakarta starting December 16. “There is a slim chance to change the decision [of the AFF] but most likely the two games will be played in Indonesia,” he said. Again, Romualdez, expressed onfidence that the Indonesians—a three-time champion—are beatable by the Filipino players. “It can be done. The ball is round,” he said.


The AFF earlier said that the Philippines cannot host any match in the semifinals of the Suzuki Cup since no football stadium in the country meets standards of the football federation. Simon McMenemy, the British coach of the Philippine football team, also told reporters upon


arrival of the team from Vietnam and during Thursday’s press conference at the H2O Hotel inside the Ocean Park in Manila that he was disappointed when he learned of the AFF’s decision not to hold the semifinal matches in the Philippines. “It’s a massive disappointment


to play the Indonesians [in Jakarta]. In two games, it’s too painful to play in their home court,” he said. “These hardworking boys


deserve to play in front of their fellow Filipinos,” McMenemy added. He said that the Azkals were also disappointed to learn that they will not be playing in the Philippines. Vietnam’s sports ministry, according to team manager Dan Palami, has sent feelers on whether it is possible for Vietnam to host the Round of Four as neutral playing ground for the Philippines and Indonesia. “Vietnam is willing to host the semifinals and shoulder all the expenses,” Palami said, adding that they have until Friday to submit a proposal to bring the semifinal clashes to Vietnam, with the country as neutral host. If Jakarta would finally be it, Romualdez said that the Filipino booters should play “defense” because the Indonesians are “too fast.” And, he added, “If we beat


Vietnam in its home court, I’m sure we can also do the same thing [to Indonesia].” The Azkals’ 2-0 win against


Vietnam probably was the best showing by Filipino football players in decades, the reason why fans of the sport seem to believe that the local boys would be able to hoist the Suzuki Cup against Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia later this month.


»In The Manila Times


December 11, 1967 Sy-Changco faces arrest


LIBERAL and Nacionalista members of the Senate committee on privileges and election laws will meet in a showdown this afternoon on a move to cite Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco for contempt for his continued refusal to head the summons of the committee.


December 11, 1947 Roxas calls ‘Big 4’ to talks in Baguio THE “Big Four” of the republic will meet in Baguio today to begin discussions of vital problems, national and international in scope. The series of meetings are expected to last until President Manuel Roxas returns to Manila.


December 11, 1987 Aquino to meet Ramos on bid to free Gringo PRESIDENT Corazon Aquino and Gen. Fidel Ramos, Armed Forces chief, are expected to meet shortly to discuss suggestions that the govern- ment consider a possible amnesty for captured rebel leader Lt. Col. Gregorio Honasan.


a Human Rights Desk Operations Manual, which will provide infor- mation and operational proce- dures to police personnel manning the Human Rights Desks. “Handbooks have also been pre- pared for regional police offices and media organizations as useful guides in light of the risks they face in the conduct of their duties,” the President said.


He added that the government is


also working overtime to prevent new cases of human-rights violations and to resolve the previous cases. Mr. Aquino noted that of the 39


work-related murders of members of the media reported by the PNP, 85 percent have charges filed in their respective cases. “In particular, there have been significant developments in the two journalist-related cases that have occurred during our term,” he said.


The President added that in the shooting of radio reporter Miguel Belen of Camarines Sur in July, a murder charge is already pending against two suspects before the Re- gional Trial Court of Iriga City. He said that the case of Jose Daguio, who was killed in Tabuk City, Kalinga, in July, has been set for initial hearing.


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